Invasive Species

A plant clinging to rocks at the edge of the Pacific ocean. A flowering succulent. Small, alone, yellow, green. Not where I expect to see a dry region plant. Not where I expect to see any plants. Algae maybe, on these rocky eruptions that get bashed by the wind, waves and sun. What could grow here?

Obviously this plant with flowers the colour of plastic can.
My horticulturist friend says it is invasive.
Invasive of what I ask? What would be here if not for it? To be honest, my friend is an old one. And he's crafty. It is possible he's yankin' my chain.

Scotch Broom is a real invasive species in my area. Local lore goes, the foreigners brought it. I tend to believe this. Its green is very green, juniper or cedar braid like spikes. Prolific yellow flowers that light up the bare brown earth of development or clearcuts. Their smell is even richer wafting through every ditch, green space and shoreline.

We have burning parties up and down the coastline and in the hills. Bring your kids, your grandad and your gloves. The local paper gives detailed instructions on how to kill this plant and rid our area of its seed. 'Cut below ground when not in flower,' under a moon, any moon wearing a red hat. By the looks of the broom this summer, our ritual needs greater interest.

Maybe we need greater awareness too. What's invasive?

My friend allegedly bought a Broom at a nursery in the same province but a few mountain ranges to the east. If it's invasive, is that legal? Knowing what I know here, it will spread. Is that bad? What happens?...
All I hope is that if she plants it on her 40 acre mountainside they don't curse her name in ten years at the Annual Death To Broom Day in the Kootenays.

So what's invasive? Something that displaces a native and takes over its land, food and space. If, as my buddy says, we should kill it; my community says burn it and report its presence, what should the natives do about our invasion? I hope they are as gentle as I am with the succulent, leaving it in its watery craggy home.